Check Out Our New Video!

We now have our new Diamond Certified video! They did a great job and we are excited to be able to share it with you all! Enjoy!

Hope you have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Sincerely,
Roofmax
www.roofmax.net

Check out our New Diamond Certified Video Profile!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDUCtTUKwEI#watch-main-area

This is a great video done for out Diamond Certified profile. Hope you enjoy it!

The Yearly Meeting…Starting off 2010 with a great start!

Roofmax employees held their annual yearly meeting at Marie Callender’s last Friday. It was a great meal! Good pie! But, far more exciting was looking back at 2009′s triumphs, challenges, firsts, and growth. We have set new goals and are determined to continue to bring you the best service possible. We are so grateful for our past customers and are excited to help and work with new people this year. Roofmax is committed to being the best roofing contractor, best at roof repairs, and best solar installer in the industry. New customers, new products, and new technologies, here’s to a great 2010 to you and to Roofmax!

Tara Thornock

www.roofmax.net

Roofing Companies: 4 Roofing Projects to Leave to the Pros

With so many building and home repair companies out there it’s hard to know who does what. Read on to find out what roofing companies do and what they can do for you.

Roofing Companies Install New Roofs

From residential roofing to commercial projects, roofing companies install new roofs. When there is new construction or a remodel, the roofing company will come in and install the entire roof. This can include everything from installing the trusses to framing the roof to laying the tar paper and installing the shingles. Though not many individuals have the need for complete roof installation, roofing companies that have the experience and knowledge to do so may be ones to look at when the time comes to research roofing companies for your own use.

Roofing Companies Repair Roofs

Roof repair is something all roofing companies do. Roof material will sometimes become worn or weathered, including warping, leaking, and missing shingles, and will require repair. Some contractors don’t like to do repairs. Many think that there is often the chance for continued decay or failure in a roof that requires repair in one place. For this reason some roofing companies may recommend replacement over repair. However, many residential roofing customers prefer repair over replacement for reasons of cost and expense. Good roofing companies can evaluate a roof to determine the damage and if repair or replacement is the best strategy.

Roofing Companies Replace Roofs

Roof replacement is the primary job of roofing companies. They spend most of their time replacing roof material on mainly residential roofing. They have many roof material options including a variety of shingles, tiles such as slate or ceramic, and even metal roofing. Because a roof is basically the umbrella that protects a home it is one of the most important parts of a house. Due to natural occurrences, such as hail, wind, and snow, and the debris that can pile up as a result of any of those, roof replacement is a common occurrence. Roofing companies also do roof replacement due to aging and wear and tear on average residential roofs. Damage from nature and age can cause leaks, and leaks can cause extensive interior damage and roof replacement is key to preventing them. Having a good and reliable roofing company evaluate your roof by doing a visual examination can help you decide if roof replacement is necessary in your situation.

Roofing Companies Can Install Solar Panels

Something relatively new to roofing companies is solar panel installation. Due to the recent concern for the environmental impact of conventional heating and energy sources, many people are turning to solar power for their homes. Roofing companies can install solar roof panels to residential roofing projects that can help generate enough energy to power an entire home. Though this type of project used to be done primarily by specialists, many roofing companies are now able to include solar panel installation into a residential roofing project plan.

Winterize Your Home

by Jennifer Berry

No matter if you’re bundled up in Des Moines or hitting the beach in Miami, ensuring your home isn’t wasting your hard-earned cash through inefficiency is a must-do, especially during the winter months.You may not know it, but your home is probably leaking a lot of that climate-controlled air that you’re paying so much to create every month.Before your thoughts of “not my house!” get too loud, chew on this: The average, unweatherized U.S. home leaks air at a rate equivalent to a 4-square-foot hole in the wall, according to the ” Solar Living Sourcebook” by John Schaeffer. And with the residential sector consuming 35 percent of available energy to consumers, reducing our use of this costly resource can result in big savings.So what should you do to prevent wasting your hard-earned cash on leaks? Check out our handy guide to weatherizing your home.

In the U.S., the average, unweatherized home leaks air at a rate that’s equivalent to a 4-square-foot hole in the wall. Photo: Flickr/John Oxton

Simple Tests and Adjustments

Do an Audit: First, assess how much you’re spending each month in heating and cooling. Many electricity providers will provide you with a report that compares your energy usage with similarly sized homes in your area. ENERGY STAR also provides a similar service. Where do you fall? If you’re in the mid to high range, then there’s work to be done!You can also pay to have an energy audit performed on your house by a professional, taking the guesswork out of where you can improve your home’s efficiency.Make sure they conduct a blower door test, which depressurizes a home and can reveal the location of many leaks.  Without a blower door test, there are ways to find some air leaks yourself, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.If you don’t think leaks are a big problem, think twice: In California, the average duct system loses 30 percent of its heating or cooling to leaks. To detect them in your home, look to areas where different materials meet, such as between brick and wood siding, between foundation and walls and between the chimney and siding. Some of the main places in your home that you should check include: 

• Door and window frames
• Mail chutes
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Cable TV and phone lines
• Outdoor water faucets
• Where dryer vents pass through walls
• Bricks, siding, stucco and foundation
• Air conditioners
• Vents and fans

You can also try these steps to help detect leaks in your home:

1. Shine a flashlight at night over all potential gaps while a partner observes the house from outside. Large cracks will show up as rays of light. However, this is not an accurate way to detect small cracks.
2. Shut a door or window on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out without tearing it, you’re losing energy.
3. Check the attic, walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space, like a garage or basement. The structural elements are usually exposed in these areas, which makes it easy to see what type of insulation you have and to measure its depth or thickness.
4. Inspect exterior walls using an outside electrical outlet. Make sure to turn off the power to the outlet before removing the cover. Then, shine a flashlight into the area, where you should be able to see if there’s insulation in the surrounding walls and, potentially, how thick it is.

If you find air leaks, check out DoItYourself.com’s guide to types of caulking and weatherstripping and where and how they should be applied to the various areas in your home.

Adjusting the thermostat by just two degrees is the equivalent of cutting 2,000 pounds of carbon emissions annually and almost $100 in energy costs. That’s the equivalent of driving a car more than 3,000 miles! Photo: Flickr/cocabong0

Check Your Thermostat: Set your thermostat between 65-68 degrees when you are home, and wear layers if you’re still cool. If you dread the prospect of rising to a freezing house, investing in a programmable thermostat is a great option. Set it to warm up the house just as you wake.If the initial cost of a programmable thermostat (about $115) deters you, keep in mind that it will save you $180 every year you use it. That’s $1,800 over 10 years, making the up-front cost feel like pennies.Other simple steps can include wrapping a water heater with an insulation blanket and replacing heating and cooling filters.

Save Money

Many cities are investigating and testing weatherization programs to help residents save money and increase home values.The Houston Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) provides about $1,000 to weatherize qualifying homes. Studies show that homeowners received dramatically reduced electricity bills after their homes were weatherized. On average, electricity usage was reduced by 12-18 percent each month.These techniques weren’t complicated or advanced, either. Basic measures included weatherstripping, window caulking, attic insulation and energy efficient light bulbs. In fact, during the summer months (when electricity bills are higher), homeowners witnessed reductions of up to 20 percent. So far, the city has weatherized more than 7,000 homes.But you don’t have to live in the Houston area to find huge savings on home weatherization. According to Matt Rogers, senior adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, more than $5 billion was appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to draw up a weatherization program across the country.“What we’re doing through the Reinvestment Act is both weatherizing homes, but we’re also demonstrating that this is a high-return investment for homeowners everywhere,” said Rogers. “You’ll put 20 or 30 cents back into [your] pocket every year for every $1 that you invest in energy efficiency.”You can see how much of this funding was awarded to your state on the Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Web site.

Jennifer Berry

Jennifer Berry is a staff member at Earth911.com.More articles by Jennifer

Bibliography: Winterize Your Home

www.roofmax.net

6 Common Types of House Windows

Posted Nov 30, 2009 by WhatYouNeedToKnow

A quick look at 6 types of house windows commonly used. Trying to determine what type of house windows will suit your needs, this five minute guide will point you in the right direction

Are you looking to replace the windows on your home but aren’t sure how to do it? Some of you may still be questioning what type of windows you should install. Before you worry about the how of replacing your windows you need to answer the question of what type. Here is a quick overview of 6 common window types.

Awning Windows

Awning windows are similar to casement windows ( a style popular in the 1950′s and 60′s). However, unlike their predecessors these windows are generally wider and taller than a casement window. A common plae that you would see this type of window is below an existing window, or above a doorway. Many people will recognize these as bathroom windows as awning windows are commonly used for ventilation and air flow. Awning windows provide great natural sun light into your home.

Bay Windows

These windows are appropriately named as they allow for you to get a view of the whole bay from a single window oppening. Bay windows are a combination of windows, most commonly three panels, that are installed side by side to offer great visibility. If you plan to install these windows in your house you will likely be looking at a fixed frame window in the middle and double hung or casement windows on the sides. Also, when installing bay windows you should keep in mind the architecture and interior design of your home. You may want to consider installing a window seat on the inside to complete the look.

Bow Windows

Whenever a bay window exceeds three panels they are referred to as bow windows. Bow windows can also be distinguished from bay windows as they generally have a less square appearnce often appearing more rounded. Bow windows are the preferred choice for homeowners who have a great view. The primary challenge with bow windows will be privacy. Homeowners can mix and match the windows to suit their needs choosing from a variety of vented, fixed frame, or some combination of the two.

Casement Windows

Casement windows became very popular when modern design came about in the 1950′s and 60′s. In California you can find casement windows in most older neighborhoods. Casement windows are often made of metal. They are, for the most part, short and wide windows consisting of square panels of glass a little bigger than the size of an average textbook. While casement windows are considered somewhat outdated (they do not offer good insulation) you can still purchase casement windows and depending on where you live you might find the retro modern charm of these windows something your interested in.

Double Hung Windows

Double hung windows are in essence an updated version of the casement window. The double hung window followed up the casement window rush. Today you will find double hung windows on many homes in california and on the east coast. Double hung windows are almost exclusively made out of wood. Individuals who choose to use double hung windows in their home often prefer to leave the windows somewhat exposed in order to show off the natural wood charm. One bonus of having a window with a sturdy wooden frame is that the windows come in larger sizes. In fact double hung windows are the cheapest way to replace or add large windows to your home.

Skylight

A skylight is a great accent to any home. Skylights are installed in the roof of your home and open up a way for the sun to naturally light up commonly dark places such as the bathroom, hallway or even your kitchen. Skylights have a bad reputation for being hideous and an eyesore on your roof. Modern skylights have come a long way and you now have many options. In fact, some skylights have remote controls to change the amount of light that is coming into your homw. Sliding windows Sliding windows are common on track homes and are found all over the western coast, particularly southern california. Sliding windows can be wood, however, they are most commonly alluminun, or a white plastic. If you are looking to replace the windows on your home and do not mind having a common looking house, sliding windows can be very affordable and have some of the best energy star technology around at the moment. fixed frame Fixed frame windows are windows that do not move. Pretty simple.

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